Leveling device for traction-engines.



No. 774,472. PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904.

F. & W.-HOLETS.

LEVELING DEVICE FOR TRACTION ENGINES.

APPLIGATION FILED PEB.27, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

,fifliziafialezisk i v $3 //I I 1 i I I E\ Jllfmgz ys UNirn STATES Patented November 8, 1904.

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LEVELING DEVICE FOR TRACTION-ENGINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,472, dated November 8, 1904. Application filed February 2'7, 1904:. Serial No. 195,600. (No model.)

T0 of whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK HOLETS and IVILLIAM HoL-E'rs, citizens of the United States, residing at Fillmore, in the county of Fillmore and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Leveling Device for Traction-Engines, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to levelers for traction-engines.

The object of the invention is in a ready, certain, and practical manner to raise and lower the forward end of the boiler of a traction-engine as may be requisite to maintain itin a horizontal position, thereby to secure a uniform depth of water at both ends of the boiler when the engine is traveling over hilly roads or land that would cause one end of the boiler to be lowered, and thus render liable its explosion; furthermore, to effect proper leveling of such boiler when the same is used in a stationary position.

WVith the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a leveler for traction-engines, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts, there is illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the elements therein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape, proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from the spirit thereof, and in these drawings Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the boiler of a traction-engine, exhibiting the device of the present invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation looking at the head of the boiler. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the front portion of the boiler. Fig. 1 is a perspective detail view of a portion of the leveling attachment. Fig. 5 is a similar view of another portion thereof.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates generally a horizontal boiler, such as is used on tractionengines, and as its construction forms no part of the present invention further description is deemed unnecessary. The driving mechanism and traction-wheels are also omitted, as these do not enter into the present invention.

The leveling attachment comprises in part an axle-standard 2, the same being projected through an opening 3, formed in the forward projecting portion of a guide or casting 1, secured to the extension-front of the boiler. This axle-standard guide 4 may be made of wrought or cast iron and is held assembledwith theboiler through the medium of bolts or rivets 5. The axle-standard 2 is approximately rectangular in cross-section and is provided near its lower end with a ball 6, which is adapted to be engaged by a socket 7, formed on the front axle 8, the provision of this balland-socket joint permitting the front axle to be swung in the manner common to machines of this character'in order to effect guiding. As the axle may be of any preferred shape, it is herein shown conventionally. The standard below the ball 6 is reduced to form a stem or shank 9,which is adapted to project through an opening in the forward end of a stay-rod 10, a nut 11, secured on the lower end of the stem or shank, serving to prevent disconnection of the stay-rod therefrom. The rearend of the stay-rod is pivotally connected with a casting 12, secured to the under side of the fire-box of the boiler, and by this arrangement the stayrod will swing on its holding-bolt 13 as a fulcrum when the boiler is raised and lowered during its adjustment. The connection between the stay-rod and the casting 12 is to be exceedingly staple in character, as the stay-rod is furnished for the purpose of preventing any backward or forward yielding of the axlestandard under the movements of the engine in traveling.

The upper end of the axle-standard isprovidedwith two openings 14, in each of which is mounted a sheave 15 and 16, respectively. The extension of the axle-standard guide 1 is provided in advance of the standard-opening 3 with a transverse opening 17, in which is mounted a sheave 18, the opening 17 being arranged at right angles to the opening 14: for a purpose that will presently appear.

The axle-standard guide is also provided, ad-

jacent to the opening 3 and on the under side thereof, with aroller 19. The sheaves 15, 16, and 18 are designed to be engaged by a wire cable or rope 20, one end of which is firmly anchored or secured in an opening 20*, disposed back of the opening 3, and the free end of the cable is then passed upward from the back of the axle-standard and is passed over the sheave 15, then brought down and passed around the sheave 18, then carried up and passed around the sheave 16, then carried down and passed through an opening 21 in the axlestandard guide adjacent to the opening 20, thence around the roller 19, the latter being provided to prevent the cable from rubbing against the under side of the guide 4:, and the free end. of the cable is secured to a roller or shaft 22, mounted in journal-boxes 23, bolted or riveted to the under side of the boiler. The ends of the drum 22 are reduced in diameter to fit the journal-bearings, and one of the reduced portions projects through one of the bearings and carries on its free end a wormwheel 24, which is engaged by a worm 25, carried by a shaft 26, the said worm being held in operative relation with regard to the Worm-Wheel through the medium of thrustbearing boxes 27, rigidly secured to the boilershell on each side of the worm. The shaft extends upward at a slight angle and beyond the fire-box and works near at its upper end in a journal-box 28, secured to the fire-box, the free end of the shaft having secured to it a hand-wheel 29, by which the shaft is turned. As is Well known,the coaction between a worm- Wheel and a worm is one that will present a positive lock for preventing the shaft and worm-wheel from rotating; but owing to the vibrations of the engine incident to its passage over the road there might be danger of the hand-wheel turning, and thus destroying the adjustment, and to obviate this the shaft is provided with a ratchet-wheel 30, which is engaged by a pawl 31, suitably secured to the crown-sheet of the boiler.

All of the parts being arranged as shown and described, to level the front end of the boiler the shaft 26, through the agency of the hand-wheel 29, is turned in the proper direction to effect the movement desired, and this motion is transmitted by the worm to the worm-wheel and turns the drum 22 and either winds the cable thereon, as where the boiler is to be lifted, or unwinds it therefrom, as where the boiler is to be lowered.

While the leveler of this invention is simple in construction, it will be found thoroughly efficient and durable in use and may be relied upon under all conditions for doing effective work.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is- 1. The combination with a boiler, of a guide extending beyond the forward end thereof, a standard projecting through the guide and car rying the front axle, a drum, and means for operating the same, and a flexible connection between the drum and the guide, said connection being operatively combined with the standard.

2. The combination with a boiler, of a guide extending beyond the forward end thereof, a standard projecting through the guide and supporting the front axle, a stay-rod connecting the standard with the fire-box of the boiler, and means coacting with the standard and guide for raising and lowering the boiler.

3. The combination with a boiler, of a guide extending beyond the forward end thereof, a standard projecting through the guide and having its lower portion provided with a ball, a front axle having a socket to engage the ball, a stay-rod connected at its forward end with the standard below the axle and at its rear end with the fire-box of the boiler, and means coacting with the standard and guide for raising and lowering the boiler.

1. The combination with a boiler, of a guide extendingbeyond the forward end thereof and carrying a sheave, an axle-carrying standard projecting through the guide and carrying a pair of sheaves, a drum, and a flexible connection connected at one end to the drum and at its opposite end to the standard and engaging the sheaves.

5. The combination with a boiler, of a guide extending beyond the forward end thereof and carrying a sheave and a roller, an axle-carrying standard projecting through the guide and carrying at its lower portion the front axle of the engine and at its upper portion a pair of sheaves, a drum and means for operating the same, and a flexible connection having one end secured to the guide thence passed around the sheaves of the standard to the guide, then passed through the guide and back to the drum, the .roller operating to hold the connection out of contact with the guide.

6. The combination with aboiler, of aguide extending beyond the forward end thereof, and carrying a sheave and a roller, an axlecarrying standard projecting through the guide and carrying sheaves disposed near its upper end, a vibratory stay-rod connecting the lower end of the standard to the fire-box of the boiler, a drum arranged on the under side of the boiler and carrying a worm-wheel, a cable having one end secured to the guide thence passed around the sheaves of the standard and guide, thence passed through the 774,472 v as I our own We have hereto aflixed our signatures 1n the presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK HOLETS. WILLIAM HOLETS.

Witnesses:

W. E. WINsLoW, FRED WENDORF. 

